Maurice Vanmassenhove: Excavator operator
Anyone who meets Maurice Vanmassenhove on a Mourik construction site will notice it straight away: he lives and breathes his profession. He has been working at Mourik as an excavator operator for 18 years. And he has a total of more than 40 years’ experience operating various machines.
Working as a excavator operator: variety and challenges every day
Maurice began his career as a excavator operator when he was barely 16 years old. That enthusiasm has never faded.“The little boy in me has actually always stayed with me. I’m 60 now, but I still love coming to work every day. I’m not about to swap a crane for a vacuum cleaner, am I?”
At Mourik, Maurice operates various types of cranes. One day he’s carrying out excavation work; the next, he’s handling lifting operations. That variety ensures that no two working days are ever the same. “That’s exactly what makes it so enjoyable. You never know exactly what the day will bring. There are always new challenges,” he explains.
Maurice continues: “I’ve worked in many places and seen lots of different projects. That teaches you to find solutions quickly and know how to deal with different situations.” Even after more than four decades in the trade, he’s still learning new things. “That’s the beauty of this job. The machines change, the techniques evolve and every project is different.”
A passion alongside work
As well as his work, Maurice has another great passion: pigeon racing. He has kept racing pigeons and taken part in long-distance races for almost his entire life.
“Many people underestimate how much work goes into it. Before you’ve got a pigeon ready for a 1,000-kilometre race, you’ve easily spent two to three years training it.”
He recognises the discipline required for this in his work too. “Whether you’re working with machines or looking after pigeons, results don’t come easily. You have to put time and energy into it.”
Even after forty years’ experience, I’m still learning. That’s what makes this job so rewarding.
After 18 years at Mourik, Maurice looks back on his career with great satisfaction. Yet he has no plans to retire just yet.
“As long as I’m in good health and enjoy my work, I’ll carry on. I still look forward to getting up and going to work every day, and that’s what matters most in the end.”
With his many years of experience, professional expertise and enthusiasm, Maurice remains a key asset at Mourik and a colleague who demonstrates his passion for the profession day in, day out.
